The body of Corinne J. Schillings, 26, of Alexandria, Va., was recovered Monday. She was the last passenger who was unaccounted for since the water taxi overturned in a sudden thunderstorm March 6 near Fort McHenry.
``We are very grateful for the recovery of Corinne and look forward to bringing her home,'' Schillings' family said in a statement.
Twenty-five people were thrown into the cold water as winds gusted up to 55 mph. Two people died that day and two bodies were recovered Sunday, including Andrew Roccella, the man Schillings planned to marry.
Eight-year-old Sarah Bentrem remained in critical condition Monday. She is the only victim still in the hospital.
Divers had to go into the water nearly 30 times before locating the bodies because of the cold and poor visibility. They had to feel their way through 3 feet of silt in waters 60 feet deep.
The break in the search occurred Friday when crews discovered the roof of the water taxi. They did not raise the roof but concentrated their search in its vicinity. All three bodies were found with about 100 meters of where the water taxi's roof was found, said Baltimore Fire Department Chief William Goodwin.
The fire department had between eight and 10 divers at the scene Monday but used them sparingly because of the temperature of the water, which was in the 30s.
On March 6, 2004 the City of Baltimore experienced a tragedy that garnered national attention as a freak storm toppled a Water Taxi with 25 people onboard into the icy waters of the Inner Harbor. The rescue and recovery operation that ensued was a massive undertaking that encompassed hundreds of hours of manpower and specialized equipment. At a time when adversity tested the resources and determination of the City, offers of help poured in from every imaginable source. Various organizations, businesses and individuals volunteered their equipment, time and energy to help with the recovery effort.
On behalf of Martin O'Malley, Mayor of Baltimore, William J. Goodwin, Jr. Chief of the Fire Department and the Citizens of Baltimore we wish to extend our sincerest thanks to the following organizations:
Box 414 Association Inc.
Captain James Landing, Boston St.
Days Inn, Downtown
Holiday Inn Hotel, Downtown
Hyatt Hotel, Inner Harbor
Marine Sonic Technology, Va. Beach, John DeMille
Marriott Hotel Waterfront
Municipal Employees Credit Union
Phillips Cash & Carry, Fort. Ave.
SAMS Club, Port Covington
SeaTrepid, Penn.
Sheraton Hotel, Downtown
Shoppers Food, Locust Point
TYCO Corp.
